Catholic Jack Pilgrims

Day 20 (Final Entry)

2011-08-23T12:39:00.000-07:00

The journey home. We woke up early at our hotel (which we were very happy to be in). For those early birds, we celebrated Mass at 6am, packed the bus, had a quick breakfast, and were on the bus by 7:20am. At the airport we said good-bye to Most Holy Trinity, and we ourselves were broken up into two groups due to the large number of people leaving Madrid today. The town last night, and the airport today, as well as the airport in NYC, were full of WYD pilgrims. Although tired, spirits still remain high among all the pilgrims, and each is happy to share their stories.

The newspapers in Madrid were still giving rave reviews to World Youth Day. The first line of the main editorial of the paper said, "A complete success!" People protested that the government had spent €50 million euros on the Pope's visit, but the early reports were that the pilgrims brought in €160 million euro to the economy. Different estimates of the closing papal Mass put the numbers between 1.4-2 million people, the largest event ever in Spain.

At this point we are in the airport in New York City (we landed just after the 5.9 earthquake), and we expect to be home in a few hours!

Some EWTN coverage for WYD:

The entry for today will be provided by Tony:

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Wow. I don't know how else to sum up this entire pilgrimage. Just...wow. In the first few days alone, I learned fairly quickly that the terms "pilgrimage" (which this trip actually was) and "vacation" (which is what I thought it was going to be) are at very, very opposite ends of the spectrum. However, despite pick-pocketers, protests, and spiritual hardships, we are now at the end of our long journey. A little tired perhaps, but nonetheless filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps it is appropriate that the final blog entry is done in New York City. When I saw the familiar skyline, despite not having seen it in over ten years, I felt a sense of homeliness at being back in my home country. It was comfortable again to be back in an environment when you could order exactly what you want, how you want it, at Wendy's (there were none in Europe, so some of us *cough*...Tim...*cough* missed it).

And yet, the grueling discomfort that I felt for most of the trip brought me closer to God than I have been in months. I was finally able to shed the anger that I brought with me on this trip and felt instead a sense of peace at the WYD Mass, celebrating it with almost 2 million brothers and sisters in Christ.

So in a way, the real hard part begins (which is hard to believe). How can I retain that fire of the Holy Spirit within me now that I have been set loose into the world with the mission our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI entrusted to me to tell people about the glorious Body of Christ, or about the miracle that is the Catholic Church, a body of millions of people that despite speaking in different tongues worships our Lord God as one?

When our plane left Madrid, I had one brief glimpse of the airfield where we celebrated World Youth Day, and it struck me right then just how many people were there giving thanks and praise. The task that Pope Benedict XVI entrusted to us is a daunting one. Yet after being in the midst of the sight of hundreds of thousands of Catholics in every direction I looked, I have renewed hope that we are up to the task.

With a bittersweet air, I leave everyone following this blog with this message: Your faith is very very precious. If you truly believe it, and all of the promises God made to us, then you should not be afraid to tell everyone about it. Don't keep it to yourself. Don't barricade yourself inside it. Faith, whichever one you follow and practice, is never something that you should lock up and keep for yourself. It is meant to be shared, to bring you and others joy. Don't worry about what others might say; how they respond to what you have to say is their business. You never know, you may be opening the door for someone who was looking for it all along.

- Tony

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One final thing: Thank you all so, so much for following us on this trip. We are so grateful for all of your prayers and support. Though you weren't with us in person, we felt all of you there with us, standing alongside us. We are the Body of Christ. URLVD! :)

Ally in front of our ride home.

Euro-pants

Farewell

Ally with her Magnum Gold bar

On the moving walkway

A nice pair of 767-400ERs for our trip home

Over the vast Atlantic Ocean

At JFK Airport

Day 19

2011-08-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

Today we woke up for the last time in our World Youth Day housing. We celebrated Mass with the group staying at our housing from Denver. It was clear that everyone was exhausted, but we were able to recognize that God has been busy at work in our lives. One of the messages that people seemed to really resonate with was the difference between what they had been hoping for, and what actually happened on the pilgrimage. Some people had disappointments in not being able to see the Pope, and missing certain things, but it was helpful to recognize that those things are not what make our faith, but Jesus Christ. At the end of the day, He is constantly inviting us to deeper relationship, whether we are at World Youth Day or at home - something we may have already known, but it took going on this pilgrimage to make it even clearer.

We met up with our new EF tour Guide, Nicolas, who will be with us for the last 24 hours and help us get to the airport. We took the metro to our hotel for the night. In the afternoon we had free time where people went shopping, visited some more churches, and rested. We had a nice Spanish dinner, complete with sangria, and ended the night with some sharing time and Night Prayer in one of the rooms. So much has happened over the last 3 weeks, and as great as it has been, people are very excited to go home.

Group photo

WYD is in the paper!

All smiles before dinner

Perro de Newman? :) (he could survive the cold winters)

Us with our new tour guide Nicolas

Last dinner in Madrid

Smiles 1

Smiles 2

Night prayer and worship

Day 17-18

2011-08-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, August 20th we celebrated Mass at Sagrada Familia school with the groups from Bangladesh and Denver. A few people instead went to the Mass at the Palacio with all the U.S. Bishops. Bishop Nevares was there and one of our students was able to talk with him. After Mass we took a brief nap and ate to get ready for the pilgrimage ahead of us.

Equipped with our gear for the next 24 hours we took the metro. It turned out to be surprisingly quick and simple because even with walking approximately 3 miles, it still only took us 2 hours to find a spot at the vigil site at Cuatro Vientos Aeropuerto. We were settled by 2:30pm, which was good because we found a pretty good spot (we could see the stage from our spot, as well as a large screen in the front of our section), but was bad because it was very hot all afternoon (people were spraying hoses out their windows along the route to keep the pilgrims cool, and one store gave us a whole bunch of 2-liter bottles of water) and several people suffered from the heat. We worked to keep everyone hydrated, and then later God helped us by sending us a monsoon-like storm with very strong winds and decently heavy rain. The wind was so strong that it blew the white zuchetto off of the pope's head while he was speaking, but also unfortunately damaged two adoration chapels that had been set up - the consequence of this was that they had to move the Eucharist and many pilgrims were not able to receive communion at Mass the next day, including our group.

The Pope came and led us in prayer and gave a brief talk. He led us in Eucharistic adoration. The same field where 500,000+ people were continuously chanting and talking became extremely quiet for 15 minutes as everyone fell to their knees for a period of silence before the Blessed Sacrament.

The numbers at the site continued to grow and other groups (including a small one from Phoenix led by Fr. Matt Henry) were turned away because the site had already exceeded capacity (they were able to gain access in the morning). The singing, chanting, laughing, and talking continued late into the night. The rain cooled things off, as well as got a lot of our stuff wet, and people were able to get a little bit of sleep.

In the morning the Pope arrived around 9:20am, and took a brief tour around the site in his pope-mobile. This had been prevented the night before because there were too many people there and they couldn't secure the passage-ways. We then celebrated a beautiful Mass where the Pope encouraged the young people to not be afraid and to seek Christ as the foundation of their life and the fulfillment of their desires. One count put the crowd for Mass at 1.4 million people.

After the Mass our group set up as much shade as we could and waited for the majority of the crowd to leave. Even after waiting an extra two hours, it still took our group around 3 hours to get back to our housing site. We cleaned up, prayed Evening Prayer together, including communion for those who were not able to receive, and had a relaxing evening where people went out for dinner and then came back and went to sleep early. It was a little challenging because some restaurants don't open for dinner until 8:30pm and another storm came through again tonight.

Today's journal entry is from Father Matt:

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This pilgrimage has been a beautiful and challenging one for me. I have really enjoyed seeing the faithfulness of the young people in our group - they have inspired me by the way they linger to pray at religious sites, and even though extremely tired, they continue to persevere without complaining. It has been challenging to me especially living in the World Youth Day provided housing. It has reminded me that everything we have in life is gift. It has shown me how much I try to control my life, and when suddenly I can't control things, I can get easily frustrated . The connection with "pilgrimage" is that God's plan for my life is very often different, but always better, than what I want. My journey to heaven must be one continuous, "let Your will be done, and not my own," or I will never make it there. I pray for the grace and humility to continue to let Him lead, and to do it with joy.

As cool as celebrating Mass with the Pope was (on my birthday no less - Annette's birthday was the day before and said she was having a slumber party and invited the pope...and he showed up!), or Mass in Assisi, one of the most powerful moments for me was when we celebrated Mass with the Chinese pilgrims last Monday here. To hear an English reading proclaimed at Mass by someone from China who faces intense persecution and scrutiny by the government, and yet who does so fearlessly and with joy, was very moving for me. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ with whom we are united in the Eucharist, and have a passion and joy that we sometimes lack. Their courage is an inspiration for me in our culture where we are so hesitant to bring up faith or God not because we are afraid physically, but about what others might think. Celebrating Mass with them on the Solemnity of the Assumption was a big reminder that while people may hurt our bodies, one day we will be with Mary, body and soul, in heaven.

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The cross at WYD

Gathering at the airport field for WYD

The masses from above

The Holy Father at the Night Vigil

Benedetto! *clap clap clap clap clap*

RAIN!

Enduring a hurricane

The only way to stay warm from suddenly cold wind and rains

Not even a little wind and rain stops Pope Benedict XVI from his prayer

Fireworks!

The sun rises over WYD

Ready for Mass

Watching the Popemobile drive toward the stage

Pope Benedict XVI celebrating Mass

A merry gathering

Happy faces following Mass

Our fort

Singing in the...eh...rain

Cruz's dramatic off-in-the-distance stare

Checked out after Mass

Pilgrims

Our friends from Spain give the gift of nice cold water from above

Fr. Matt and Fr. Matt!

Day 16

2011-08-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

Today was the third and final day of Catechesis before we head out toward the site of the World Youth Day Mass with the Pope. And by all accounts, it was a relatively relaxing day. We started out today just like the past two days by attending Mass and a Catechesis session, this time put on by Archbishop Timothy Dolan (New York, USA).

After lunch, most of us went to witness the Stations of the Cross (some fortunate enough to be along the route where Pope Benedict XVI traveled to attend the Stations of the Cross), while others went around and sought out Madrid's hidden treasures, like a park located just down the street from the school we were staying at.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of a long and tiring journey. After Mass at 9:30, we will hike for four hours across Madrid to get to the Cuatro Vientos Airfield, where roughly a million people will be in attendance. Our next blog entry will be posted on Sunday evening (Madrid Time) following the end of World Youth Day, after which we will spend one more day in Madrid before heading home.

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Stations of the Cross

Catechesis talk by Archbishop Timothy Dolan (New York, USA)

Pope Benedict XVI

Our Holy Father waves hi to us!

Smiles after meeting the Pope

Lunch time!

Pope Benedict XVI at the Stations of the Cross

Day 14-15

2011-08-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

Today we had our first morning waking up in the community living situation with limited showers, sinks, and time. We ate our standard World Youth Day breakfast of a packaged muffin and a juice box and chocolate drink. We walked to our catechesis session (very thankful that it is close to our housing so we don't have to take the metro).

The first talk came from Sister Mary Gabriel (?) of the Sisters of Life. Then came our main speaker, Cardinal Pell from Syndey, Australia. He spoke about faith and how it is reasonable to believe in God. Then he presided at Mass where there were more than 45 bishops and 200 priests. In total about 12,000 pilgrims were at our specific English site.

After Mass people went in different directions, but many people stuck around the Palacio de Deportes and heard a panel discussion on religious freedom, including Archbishop Charles Chaput, Carl Anderson (Supreme Grand Knight of the Knights of the Columbus, Fr. Rosica (of Salt and Light productions), and Helen Alvare. People also took advantage of confessions, adoration, and other exhibits at the center.

Other people went around town to visit the Cathedral of Saint Isidore, St. Francisco, and many of the other churches in town. We finished the evening with night prayer and a brief discussion on some of the protestors that we had encountered today.

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On Day 15 (Aug 18), we woke up a little bit earlier because we learned that yesterday many English pilgrims were turned away because there wasn't enough room. So, after praying morning prayer together (Liturgy of the Hours) which we have grown accustomed to doing multiple times each day together, we arrived at the Palacio early. We were surprised when an usher came to get us in the back and escorted us to the front of the stadium. We had front row seats for Dana Scallon singing (writer of 1993 WYD song "We Are One Body", chastity speakers Jason and Kristalina Evert, and Archbishop Miller of Vancouver who gave us our 2nd catechesis.

Archbishop Miller spoke about what it means to have our foundation on Jesus Christ (the World Youth Day theme, Colossians 2:7). After another large Mass we broke into two groups, not necessarily on purpose. One group received a faster lunch and walked to the site where the Pope would be showing up later, and waited for 5 hours. The other group received a very slow lunch at a restaurant and walked to the site much later. They decided to simply stay along the road, where it turned out that the Pope drove by so they saw him up close. The first group stood on their feet for a long time, but never actually saw the Pope.

The pilgrims have seen several other priests and groups from Phoenix. Fr. Thielo Ramirez and Fr. Don Kline are with St. Joan of Arc. Fr. Matthew Henry is leading a small group from Phoenix. Fr. Carlos Gomez is with a group from Arise.

After the welcoming ceremony at the Plaza de Cibeles the different groups ate dinner (different than past World Youth Days, we receive coupons that are valid at certain restaurants, so the pilgrims decide which restaurant they want to eat at. The meals are mostly very good, but very often the lines are very long, and several times the restaurants have run out of food), and met back at the school for night prayer.

The journal entry for today is from Patricia:

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One of the amazing things about World Youth Day is waking up every morning with anticipation, wondering what the Lord has in store for your day. We began the day as we always do with morning prayer, then we all walked over to the Palacio de Deportes arena for Catechism. After taking our seats near the back of the huge arena, a man came up and offered our group front row seats which we accepted gratefully. Sitting in the front with the 12,000 other english speaking pilgrims behind and above us was an amazing experience. We listened to an amazing talk by Jason and Crystlina Everett followed by another talk by Arch Bishop Miller. Shortly after all 12,000 of us celebrated a beautiful mass service together, and then we split into smaller groups for lunch. My group of 14 ate at a delicious pizzeria before heading off to attempt a catch a glimpse of Pope Benedict XVI at his welcoming ceremony.

Making a human chain, the 14 of us were able to weave our way through thousands of people to find a preferably shady spot along the Pope's route o the main altar. However the only area we could find was on the hot black pavement in the unforgiving Madrid heat and humidity. Yet by the grace of God, a cloud appeared and provided a much appreciated cover to which the thousands of pilgrims present cried out in relief. Volunteers provided additional consolation by hosing down the massive crowds with cool water. Everyone was thoroughly drenched, especially our six foot Seminarian Dan whom we all attempted to use as a human shield every time the hoses came by.

Everywhere the eye could see, besides the area of road gated off for the Pope, was covered with thousands and thousands of people. I have been in crowds before yet nothing can compare not only to the great size of the crowd, but the pure joy that seemed to exude from every individual person. The diversity of cultures also amazed me as there are people from over 119 countries here. We have always been told that there are millions of other practicing Catholics around the world who share our same beliefs. Yet being given the opportunity to attend World Youth Day and see for myself the hundreds of flags being waved through the air really shows that we are not alone in our faith.

During the four hours we waited for the arrival of the Pope we met and talked with pilgrims from many different countries. But we had a particularly good time with a lively group from the island of Trinidad which is just off the coast of South America. When the 'macarena' was played over the speakers they were very enthusiastic to learn the movements and we were very happy to teach them. Finally after more dancing and chatting it was announced that the Pope was making his way towards us. Cheers erupted and thousands of voices could be heard chanting in unison "est á es la juventuel del Papa!" which means "we are the youth of the Pope." On a huge screen we watched as the Pope approached closer in his 'Pope-mobile,' and then he was right before us, only a few feet away. I had never seen so many smiles or tears in the same place before. People were reaching over the railings crying out to Pope Benedict XVI who was smiling and waving in his gentle and serene way.

I lack the writing ability to put into words how incredible the brief encounter we had with the Holy Father was. Nothing I can say will give this event the justice it deserves. But the picture depicted below, which was taken by Luke while on the shoulders of his older brother Mark, better portrays our experience in a snap shot than any words I possess in my limited vocabulary. This day will forever remain in my memory. In closing I just want to wish my Dad a very HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY. I love you Dad and I'll see you soon!!

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PS: Special thanks to Luke for his amazing picture of our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. Very Pulitzer Prize-worthy.

Day 13

2011-08-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

Day 13 was our first full day in Madrid. We woke up from our World Youth Day housing, and had most of the day free. People broke into different groups. Some went to the Theology of the Body talk across town and others went to some different churches throughout Madrid.

The day culminated in Opening Mass of World Youth Day presided over by Cardinal Antonio Maria of Madrid. There were many, many bishops, and about 9,000 priests at Mass. Our group was able to get great seats in the plaza for the Mass, although we had to deal with lots of people trying to push in our space.

After Mass everyone grabbed dinner at different restaurants, and headed back to our WYD housing at Sagrada Familia.

Today's journal entry is from Kathy:

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Today was our first full day at World Youth Day! We were able to sleep in this morning which was a blessing and then we each got a simple breakfast here at the school where we are staying for the week. We did morning prayer as a group. It’s always nice to come together to pray in our small traveling community.

The first part of the day was free time so a few of us walked down to Parque de Retiro where we saw a group from the UK doing interpretive Christian dance, vocational booths for anyone discerning a future in religious life and an out door museum of the basilica in Barcelona, Sagrada Familia. We then made our way through the very busy metro station to the north side of town where we were able to listen to Christopher West and his Theology of the Body talk.

At 8p there was the World Youth Day opening mass in the center of the city. There were over 1 million people in the streets watching mass on big screens or just listening on speakers. We were fortunate enough to be close enough to see the altar as well as see a screen. The mass was said in Spanish as well as Latin and over all it was a beautiful sight to see the Universal Catholic Church come together in Madrid to celebrate out culture, community and faith.

Buenas noches y vayan con Dios
Kathy

Day 12

2011-08-17T23:32:00.000-07:00

Our day today was simply traveling day. We boarded our train late last night and awoke with the train arriving in Madrid at around 9pm. Most people had slept (or tried to sleep almost the whole way, perhaps 10 hours of sleep). After we got off, we did our morning prayer at the train station and took the Metro (the subway in Madrid) to get to our place of residence: Colegio Sagrada Familia, a grade/high school, and we settled down on the gym floors (one for the men and one for the women) where we would be sleeping and sharing with hundreds of others, with three showers among the men and two for the women. While we did that, our group leaders registered us and got our passes and meal tickets.

We then celebrated Mass with a Chinese group led by two priests. There was to be a third one, but he had been arrested in China for being a priest and was unable to come on the trip (he has since been released, but won't be able to come). The Most Holy Trinity group had formed prayer partners with the Chinese pilgrims. After Mass they got to meet one another and had dinner together.

Going to sleep for the first time in the gym was challenging because the other groups came in later. However, we were pretty exhausted and went to sleep After Mass, expecting very busy days ahead of us.

Today's entry comes from Luke:

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Today was the the fastest day yet during the our trip. We sleep on a train which is something that i have never done before. We waited for a little over an hour at the station. And by the time we got to the sub way for our train to the holy family which is where we are living for a week, and by that time it was 12:00 noon time. And we had the whole day to myself with other friends that i have made. So, this day was very fast. And we are at the half way point for our trip. Hope everyone at home is praying for us! We are doing the same.

God Bless
Luke Seltzer

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PS: At the time is this posting, it may have come to light that there were some protesters/rioters protesting WYD and the Pope. Some of our group experienced this first-hand, and other than being a little shaken up, we are excited for the next few days, and want to bring peace and joy to this city more than ever. We are taking even more precautions to make sure that everyone is, and feels, safe. Peace, Fr. Matt.

Dan easily fit in our cosy overnight train

Prayer outside the Metro station

The Metro in Spain with all our luggage

Our new home for the next week

Americans love basketball

Mass with the Chinese group (no photos to insure their safety)

Mary in the Sagrada Familia chapel

Day 11

2011-08-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

Our day in Lordes was an amazing experience. A few of us got up really early and went to Mass in the Basilica in Lordes, a beautiful church complete with a stunning crypt in the inside on the lower level. Afterward, we went to visit the baths that used the water where St. Bernadette and so many others have found healing throughout the years. It was a humbling and spiritually uplifting experience for all of us.

Afterward, some of us went to visit Mary's grotto while others followed the Stations of the Cross or visited St. Bernadette's family home. Afterwards, we relaxed for a bit before the long train ride to Madrid, Spain, and the beginning of World Youth Day.

Today's entry comes courtesy of Ally:

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Today was a great day! The experiences I have been able to have thus far in our pilgrimage have truly been once in a lifetime. Being able to take part in mass at the Vatican, driving through the beautiful country of Switzerland, and the baths at Lourdes were so beautiful are hard to out into words.

The people I have encountered on this journey and the relationships that have been built are blessings that I will treasure. Today being able to spend most of the day in Lourdes was amazing! The amount of people was very overwhelming at first but then seeing the massive amount of joy from each person made it so much better! Seeing all kinds of people, young and old, waiting in line for hours for the baths, and actually being able to bathe in the baths was such a humbling experience for me. I can’t wait for the WYD activities to begin and the rest of our pilgrimage to continue!

Pray for us! God Bless
-Ally

Day 10

2011-08-14T02:09:00.000-07:00

Today we woke up, had Mass at the hotel, and another good French breakfast of bread and cereal. Our tour bus showed up and drove us all around Paris in a few short hours. We took a few more photos at the Eiffel Tower, saw the Louvre, the Opera House (site of Phantom of the Opera), the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees, spent some time at Notre Dame, went to the Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, and then made it to the train station for our train to Lourdes.

We arrived in Lourdes around 9pm. We went to different places for dinner, but still found time to visit the Grotto and wander and pray before the Basilica closed at midnight.

Today we have Bernadette for our daily journal:

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Yesterday and today have been a test of endurance and faith. The traveling, the walking, the quiet, the noise, the stress and the peace. It's been nonstop since the beginning of the trip, but nothing has been more rejuvenating. God's grace has blessed us so much in getting us safely to our next destination, while also giving each one of us consolation along the way.

Our stay in France keeps us busy with sights and sounds of a different culture and people. Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Arch de Triumph, and many other spots in Paris were great photo stops and a night tour on the Seine river showed the city lights of an enchanted place. But after our six hour train ride to Lourdes, we were quickly welcomed to a different environment altogether. Pilgrimage takes a new meaning for me as I wander through this city. The Grotto, where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette and asked her to pray for sinners, simply overflowed with serenity. The quiet devotion that so many are giving is so humbling, because more and more, the vastness of our faith is being revealed and the diverse people overwhelm us (in a good way). The complete life that comes with true prayer is becoming embedded in our hearts. All I keep thinking is, "How can You love me so much?"

After we arrived in Lourdes, we split up to get dinner to see the nearby grotto. We quickly found out that a whole national pilgrimage has been going on. Literally, thousands of people have been gathering in this city and we are getting to share in its peak. Today, being the eve of the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, we realize that all the pieces have been coming together, so that we may receive the full experience of His love.

Not all who wander are lost. Today, some of us had morning mass at 6 am, and then many are or have been going to the baths.....which was incredible. Real life experience can never be fully described, but if my heart could speak, it would cry happy tears. Our lives are being transformed and I am so grateful.

Day 9

2011-08-12T15:42:00.000-07:00

Today we woke up at 6:15am, had Mass in the hotel, and then hit the road a little after 8am. We spent most of the day on the road driving from Lucerne to Paris. We stopped a few times along the way, but for the most part enjoyed a fun day on the bus playing the guitar and singing, getting to know each other, and sleeping.

We arrived in Paris around 6pm and met Chris who was delayed in Phoenix due to passport issues. We had dinner at the restaurant Hippopotamus, checked into our hotel and then took the metro to the Eiffel Tower. We took some photos of the Eiffel Tower at dusk and then took a river took of Paris along the Seine. Exhausted we got back to the hotel after midnight.

Day 8

2011-08-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

Today we got to sleep in a little bit (wake up time 7:30am) before heading to Einsedeln to visit the Benedictine monastery that has been there for like 1,000 years. Fr. Matt had gone to school with the one of the monks from there at his seminary, St. Meinrad (which was founded from monks from Einseideln). After Mass with the monks, Fr. Aaron gave us a tour, which included their rare library library with books over 400 years old, and their hours which are the oldest breed in Europe (name translated “horses of Our Lady”).

We then had lunch together before driving to Lucerne where we saw some of the local sites and bought some chocolate. After another good Swiss dinner we gathered and prayed together (singing, small groups, and Night prayer).

Today’s journal entry is from Brianna:

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Today was one of the days that I felt that God was really working in our lives. We left our hotel this morning and traveled to Einseideln to visit the monks at Our Lady of Einseideln Archabbey. It was an amazing experience to see these men of God who have devoted their lives to focusing their day on praying to the Lord and showing the love of God by extending the love of Jesus to us and all those who come to their door.

Father Aaron, one of the monks, was filled with this joy that we were there at the monastery and had this smile that went from ear to ear to be able to show us hospitality and share his love of the Lord and of the monastery to us. After we had celebrated daily Mass (in German!!!) Father Aaron had arranged for us an elaborate meal at one of the hotels that included pork chops, carrots, sweet ice tea, and last but definitely the best part...French fries!!! After lunch we went back to the monastery and Father Aaron showed us around the monastery and we all got to see the first Bible that was translated into German, after Martin Luther, that was all completely written by hand. Spending those few hours with Father Aaron it helped me realize just how much of a friendship we can have with God and how much joy can be brought to our lives by knowing Him.

When we finished at the monastery we travelled to the heart of Lucerne. There we experienced many different sites that make Lucerne famous and since we broke into smaller groups, each group got to see a different aspect of the city. This time in Switzerland has been surreal because as we travel through the countryside and go to these sites it seems like a world that one would only see in the movies; luscious green grass with cows just grazing along, cute little Swiss houses, and mountains with random waterfalls coming down them. I pray that God continues to work in our lives throughout the rest of this pilgrimage and help us gain the love and joy for Him that Father Aaron shared with us today.

Day 7

2011-08-10T15:49:00.000-07:00

Today we left from Florence at 8am and drove to Pisa. There we had some fun with pictures, and then hit the road again. Northern Italy was beautiful as is Switzerland. We saw Lake Cuomo (where George Clooney resides), saw the Swiss Alps, and drove through the longest tunnel in the world (13 miles). We drove through Lucerne and arrived at our hotel West of Lucerne about an hour. We are enjoying some very nice accommodations (running water, free internet) and had a very good dinner.

Today’s journal entry is from Tim:

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“Well what to say about today...we did some driving, a bit more driving, stopped in Pisa for about 10 minutes took some photos, did some more driving, crossed the border into Switzerland waited in traffic, and did a lot more driving...yeah it was one of those days

“that being said its been one of my favorite’s, can you believe that! the bus ride to Lucerne was really not that bad, after all Switzerland is amazing, have a look below if you don’t trust me. But really it was the chance to get to know some of the other pilgrims better, the heart to heart talk I had with Fr. Matt & the chance to relax and listen to awesome music that made my day.

“Pisa was more exiting than I thought it would be, taking fun pictures put everyone in a good mood, and the Baptistry and church were beautiful. It was a real shame we had to leave so quick.

“Then we entered Switzerland, and the moment we crossed the border, I already knew that I liked it here far more than Italy...And don’t even get me started on dinner. The dessert alone was worth the trip to Europe! Mmmmmm! anyway we then celebrated mass in our hotel and are turning in for the night.

“Oh and did I say that we have super comfortable beds! and RUNNING WATER!!! Ah, the things we take for granted in the U.S.A. Anyways since today we left Italy today I will send you on your way in the Italian way...Ciao.”

Day 6

2011-08-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

Today we began with us being able to celebrate Mass in English 50 feet from the door or our hotel at the local parish. We ate a quick breakfast and then drove into town (Florence) from Monte Cattini (our hotel). Our tour guide then took us though Florence where we saw the famous Duomo (4th largest church in the world), with its very large dome, beautiful bell tower and complete facade of marble.

We saw the Santa Croce church, received a tour from a local leather shop (and learned about how to spot the difference between fake and real leather - basically, you have to cut it open to see and feel the back). We then had the whole afternoon free to climb the 440+ stairs to the top of the dome, wander around the streets, visit Michelangelo’s David, visit different churches, and eat lots of gelato.

After another good Italian dinner of pasta and bruchetta, we had some free time at the hotel to do laundry and hang out.

For tonight's pilgrim reflection, here's Marc:

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Today was quite the day. We truly are in a pilgrimage! My day started off with Cruz and I waking up at 6:00am so both of us can take a shower before we went across the street for Mass at 7:30am. Instead of the two of us taking a shower, we woke up every ten minutes waiting for the water that never came. In not the greatest mood, we strolled down the four flights of stairs across the street into Mass. The Homily was truly what we needed, a reminder that what God gives us in not what we are owed, what we deserve, or often what we want but a gift; a gift of his selfless love. We can choose to be upset that the the water never turned on, or we can choose to see that when we get water to shower, brush our teeth and do our hair is a gift. Thus, the mind-set of a pilgrimage. All of us have had the experience of being unable to stay awake, having tired feet, being hungry and missing our loved ones at home. But we seek the good that the Lord has blessed us with.

Today we saw the fourth largest Cathedral in the world, the Santa Maria del Fiore. We toured around Firenze, (Florence) seeing the political square, the home of Dante, and witnessing such art as Michelangelo’s David, or at least the perfect replica. Due to the massive amounts of pigeons the original masterpiece was moved into a special room indoors with hundreds of people in line to see it. Upon receiving our free time to explore the wonderful city on our own, we quickly headed to a sandwich/pizza shop, stopped in to get lunch, and headed over to eat some gelato; our new favorite desert. The remaining several hours was spent looking at stores for souvenirs and witnessing the gifts that God has granted us.

My group heard a beautiful organ concert in a church that was built in 1550. We sat on a bridge overlooking the Tiber River and rested gazing upon Old Bridge, a bridge so beautiful it was pourpusly avoided from being bombed by the Germans in WWII. Before finishing our day with dinner, we sat and prayed in front of an incorrupt Saint who was blessed by God because of her faithfulness. That is what I am learning, that is what I am feeling, and I know that many of the other pilgrims are feeling the comfort an happiness taking the wheel of our life by both hands. Thank you for all of your prayers, and know that we are praying for you. I, as well as the rest of us, look forward to our return together and the sharing of all the stories and experiances. May we always seek the happiness God has in-store for us.

Day 5

2011-08-08T14:34:00.000-07:00

Today we left our Rome hotel at 7am with breakfast bags for the bus (but of course we wouldn’t eat on the bus against the rules…). We drove to Assisi, where we were able to visit the Basilica of St. Clare (Santa Chiara), where we were able to see her incorruptible body (although they did not permit pictures in either of the churches we saw today). In the museum we saw some relics from St. Francis and St. Clare including his breviary, her dress, and his tunic, which showed him to be a very short man.

We then walked through the narrow streets to the Basilica of St. Francis where we received a tour from one of the Friars. We toured the lower church and the upper Basilica and heard about some of the many beautiful frescoes, including the two most famous where St. Francis stands with one ear larger than the other, and the other one where is with the birds (our tour guide was emphatic that St. Francis was not just a bird-lover, but simply loved all of creation; that being said, we saw many dogs there in Rome).

We then had some free time to visit the tomb of St. Francis’ body in the crypt, and grab lunch before being able to celebrate Mass in the monastery chapel, a rare privilege. We were escorted into the monastery and had a beautiful, quiet Mass (away from all the tourists). From there we continued our bus trip to Florence where we had a nice dinner in the hotel.

Today we have a journal entry from Amanda:

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Once again we were at the bus by 7 am which is seeming to be the norm. We grabbed a sack breakfast and were off to Assisi. We were on the bus for seven hours all today and I have been loving the bus time more and more as it increases the sense of discipleship and is a great way to come together and reflect on our days and the sights seen, discuss various church teachings as well as simply grow in our faith knowledge.

I had been looking forward to Assisi as it is my home parish (San Francisco de Asis) and it did not disappoint! We were able to go to both St. Claire's and Francis’ Basilicas and actually pray in front of their remains... can I say wow? A Friar took us around and explained the Frescos at St. Francis’ Basilica and was one of the best tours thus far. We were able to have a mass underneath the main church and it was such a powerful experience I will never forget. Just being in Assisi and hearing more about Francis’ life reiterates his unwavering love for God and humility toward poverty, obedience and chastity. Around 7pm we arrived in Florence where we checked into our hotel and had a nice dinner full of fellowship.

Day 4

2011-08-07T14:44:00.000-07:00

We began today by celebrating Sunday Mass in St. Peter's, on the main floor. Security blocked off half of the church so that the people could attend Mass. From there we had free time where most people walked the stairs to the dome atop St. Peter's Basilica. Then people prayed, went to confession, shopped for souvenirs, and hung out around St. Peter's Square, taking in the sights. Pope Benedict came on the TV screens (permanently in the Square) at 12pm to deliver his Sunday address (from Castel Gandolfo?).

We then went to the Coliseum and saw where the gladiators battled, and St. Therese visited years ago. We then walked through the Roman Forum where the senate and the people gathered. It sounds like a short day, but we were exhausted from walking and from the hot weather. We then walked to dinner near Navonna Piazza, some more delicious pasta. We had some after dinner gelato, and then rode back to the hotel. Since we were back early (to leave early tomorrow for Assisi), we took advantage of the pool and then gathered for sharing and night prayer.

Today’s journal entry is by Annette Kolnitys

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We began today with Mass in St. Peter’s basilica, which was an amazing experience. The area behind the altar is adorned with a huge stained-glass painting of a dove, which is surrounded by ornate gold decorations. The Mass was in Italian, but it was amazing all the same. It has been refreshing to attend Mass every day, and even though this one was in a different language, we could still follow along and participate in our own way.

After Mass we split up to do different things around St. Peter’s that we wanted to do. Most of us chose to climb to the top of the dome of St. Peter’s basilica. Although the 300+ stairs were claustrophobic and never-ending, it was worth it when you got to the top. To be able to see the papal gardens and the courtyard of the basilica from that high up was breathtaking. It is wonderful to be able to look out and see an entire city dedicated to God.

We spent the afternoon touring the different classic Roman structures, the Coliseum and the Roman Forum. Being able to see these different areas of ancient Roman life helped put things into perspective. One thing I find cool is how they mark time here- first they marked time by who was in power (Julius Caesar, Emperor Constantine, etc.), but now they mark their time by popes. It is really interesting to me that this is the most culminating way to mark their time. Often tour guides will just say “during the time of pope…”

Overall, the time in Rome has been awe-inspiring. It is awesome that we’ve done so much in the past few days. Seeing all of the history embedded in this city has really inspired me to want to learn more about my Catholic faith. To walk into a church adorned with gold and intricate marble structures and meticulous mosaics and think, “they’ve done this all for God, because He is worth it”, makes me wonder what I’ve been doing on my own to glorify him as well.

Day 3

2011-08-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

After another battle with finicky water supplies (the water in half the rooms doesn’t work!), Mass in the hotel room again, and a pretty good breakfast like yesterday, we heading to the Vatican Museum. We didn’t see all 1,400 rooms of items, but saw lots of statues, tapestries, frescoes, paintings, etc, including the Sistine Chapel (which unfortunately we couldn’t take pictures, so none to show you).

We then continued our tour into St. Peter’s to see the Pieta and where Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII are (in the main Basilica). St. Peter’s is the largest church in the world and contains lots of famous statues, several incorrupt saints, and lots of mosaics, which meant we could take lots of pictures.

We visited the Spanish steps, and did some battles with con artists trying to put string bracelets on our wrists (and then have us give them lots of money), before breaking into groups for the rest of the day.

One group visited the Church of St. Cecelia, another group wandered the city getting lost, another group visited the Pantheon, and the last group ran around to visit several churches. We finished the day by having a nice Italian dinner (with very salty, but tasty, potatoes) and praying Evening Prayer on the way back to the hotel.

BTW, the Catholic Jacks are happy to be on pilgrimage with 20 pilgrims from Most Holy Trinity and 3 from St. Bernadette. The groups are having fun getting to know one another!

For tonight’s journal reflection, here’s Cruz Alday:

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For everyone who is reading this, I hope that this message finds you and your family well and full of God’s blessings.

I have to share with you...so far this trip has been full of blessings and wonderful graces! My heart is in constant flames of love and joy with every step I take here in Rome. I have come to call it “My Little City of Saints!” Everywhere you look, you see and feel the steps of saints of the past...those who died for love of Christ, those who labored for Him, those who dedicated every breath of their being for their one true Beloved. It is a constant reminder for us to do the same...to follow the call of Christ and walk in his footsteps.

I would love to share with you a wonderful experience I had today! I had decided, before we even arrived to Rome, that I would visit St. Cecilia no matter the cost. I knew that her Basilica was here in Rome and that she laid here in her tomb. And having had a great devotion for her since infancy, I decided that I would pay her a visit...AND I DID!!!

I had been telling a few of my pilgrimage mates these past few days of my intention to visit her. Well, I created somewhat of a stir within the group about this ‘little pilgrimage’ of mine. Finally the day arrived when we had free reign to do as we pleased in Rome. I took this opportunity to walk across Rome and find her little Basilica (and let me tell you, it was a long walk). But what was so wonderful is that a little band of 19 soldiers of Christ (that’s us), decided to join me on this ‘little pilgrimage’!!!! We walked from the Spanish steps, to Trevi Fountain (which was a beautiful site), to the Pantheon, to the Magnificent Basilica that holds the little body of St. Cecilia. Oh dear, if I could only hold my heart out to you and show you what words fall short describing, your heart too would be engulfed in flames!! It was a beautiful experience to walk in the Basilica and be in the presence of such an extraordinary woman. I remember seeing a few of the faces of the others as they walked in...and let me tell you, it could have very well been St. Peter’s Basilica by the look in their faces. Simplicity and Holiness seem to have a great affect on one’s soul.

There were two highlights in our little adventure. The first was the small little tour of the underground Scavi that we did in St. Cecilia’s Basilica. We were able to take the same steps she took in her home, which is now located under the Basilica, and arrive at a small chapel which exposed her tomb. What a magnificent sense of holiness...it simply radiates from every wall that surrounds her. We prayed there for a bit which was a true blessing. However, the second highlight of the adventure is my favorite. After St. Cecilia’s Basilica, we decided to head back to meet the rest of the group, but as we left, we all collectively chose to say a rosary on our walk back. Perhaps you may say or think that this little act is very ordinary coming from such holy young men and women from Flagstaff and Phoenix, but it wasn’t! You see, what was experienced in this little act of saying the rosary together, was love! It comes to show that there is fruit from visiting sites like St. Cecilia and St. Peter’s Basilica. There are young men and women out there who are willing, like these martyrs of old, put their life on the line for Christ whom they love. There is hope for this world that slowly seems to be destroying itself with sin and lack of faith. And as has been echoed throughout centuries...where there is great sin, love and graces abound all the more!!!

So I beg you, don’t loose hope for our generation; please keep praying for us on this pilgrimage and those other young men and women out there who are not here, so that we may continue to do God’s will in our life. We want to immolate our life for love of Christ and His beloved Church. We want to be the light of the world.

Please be assured of our prayers, especially this particular day, where quite a few prayers were left at the foot of St. Cecilia’s tomb. I will continue to carry all of you in my heart so that everywhere I go I can take you with me. How I wish I could share more with you of the wonderful experiences we have had, but I fear I would be writing a book. May God bless you always.

In Christ,
Cruz

Day 2

2011-08-05T15:09:00.000-07:00

Today we woke up at 6:30am, had a nice breakfast at the hotel of bread, yogurt, fruit, and cereal. We drove past some beautiful sights on our way to the Vatican. We went on the Scavi Tour, which is limited to 120 people each day, and takes you take to the two levels below St. Peter’s. There you see the necropolis where St. Peter was buried, and how Constantine built a church above his tomb. In the 16th century the current St. Peter’s was built, and in 1939 the tomb was excavated and St. Peter’s bones were uncovered again.

From there we went to St. Mary Major. After finding lunch at a local supermarket, we visited St. Mary Major, whose feast happened to be today. Pope Benedict XVI was here earlier this morning celebrating Mass. The story is that Mary made it snow on this day in the 4th century, so they throw feathers in remembrance.

From there we walked down the street to St. John Lateran, which is the home cathedral for the Bishop of Rome (Pope Benedict XVI). Above the altar are the heads of Sts. Peter and Paul. After briefly visiting the baptistry (the site is where Constantine was baptized), we had dinner at a local restaurant, and then celebrated Mass at the hotel.

Now, here’s today’s journal entry from Sarah Tang!

Sometimes, walking into a Roman-sized church feels like walking into an expansive museum, and the feeling is overwhelming. With all of the statues, paintings, and history in the building, there is so much to look at, and like a reflex, my first thought is always “Where do I start?” Then, my attention is taken in by just a corner of the basilica-whichever one we happen to be in--and that is when I am reminded of the holiness of where we are. Despite the swarms of tourists in every place, the presence of the Lord is so apparent in each of the churches we visited today, from the vast, golden ceilings to the silent, prayerful chapels lining the walls up to the altar. Making my way around each church, I realized that these were all very human expressions of our love for God--places of worship inspired by the Lord and put together by human hands. And with that realization, I wondered, if these holy places sprinkling Rome can draw countless pilgrims every day and affect me in a way that I cannot describe, what is God’s true glory like? Is that something we can even imagine? After only one day of visiting churches, I cannot even think of how lost I might be at the end of this trip.

The overwhelming feelings are shadowed, however, by the experiences I am being blessed with on this trip. Going up the Scala Sante, my knees hurt and all of my skin was sticky with sweat. When I began, someone up in heaven must have been laughing at me for feeling like I had forgotten how to pray, my prayer life having become pretty shaky before this trip. By the end of the journey, though, I felt closer to God than I ever have before. Such a simple gesture of worship--praying and walking up 28 stairs (on my knees)--felt so powerful and moving. I can’t believe it’s only the second day of our pilgrimage.

Day 1

2011-08-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

Well, our first day in Europe has come and gone.

Today we gathered at the airport at 5:00am with our families. After checking in relatively quickly and saying good-bye we went through security and got on our flight. Half of our group was sitting together on the plane while the other half was spread throughout, some sitting in pairs. Erica drew the short straw and sat way in the back by herself. After an hour layover in Atlanta, we had a 9 hour flight to Rome. Even though Luke had a boarding pass and a luggage ticket, his bag somehow managed to stay on the ground in Atlanta and will hopefully catch up with us in the next day or two.

Our tour guide Sylvana met us at the airport, and we headed to our first site, St. Paul's Outside the Walls (where St. Paul is buried). After spending an hour looking at and praying in this incredible Basilica, we got on the bus and headed over to the Catacombs and Church of St. Sebastian (where St. Sebastian and an arrow and column from his martyrdom are).

After spending a half hour in the church praying, and trying not to fall asleep from the long day, we celebrated Mass there. Then we had a tour of the catacombs. Then we headed to our very nice hotel Southeast of Rome and very close to Castel Gandolfo, the summer home of Pope Benedict XVI. We had a nice dinner, although still no gelato yet. We had some sharing time, prayed night prayer, and headed to bed relatively early to get a good night's sleep and to be ready for a big day tomorrow.

For each day, each of us will give a testimonial describing how the day went. For Day 1, here's Erica Vestal:

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"Today started off long, and it was only the beginning. The nine hour flight from Atlanta to Rome was a lonely one for me. I was off in the boondocks, a whole cabin away from the rest of my fellow pilgrims.

"Our first tour stop was the St. Paul Basilica. Rome so far had looked like any other city. When we turned the corner I saw the Basilica, and it was gorgeous. It had huge columns that made me feel so miniscule. Once inside, the overwhelmingness hit me hard. There were so many things to look at. The most obvious of course was the tomb of St. Paul. It was mind boggling to know that the man who wrote a good portion of the bible was right in front of me. The details that were in the Basilica were so beautiful. My favorite details were these gold intricate flowers on the ceiling.

"Our next stop was the Catacombs of St. Sebastian. We were able to celebrate Mass there. Although it was a little warm, and I was way over due for a nap, it was amazing to have Mass in the side chapel. The statues were unbelievable. When we got to take a tour of the Catacombs it was crazy to see the empty tombs of the Christians of the past. There were walkways everywhere. I am excited to do the Scavi tour under St. Peter’s tomorrow and for gelato!"

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We'll be posting more to come! Keep checking back!

You are loved,
- The Catholic Jack Pilgrims

A Word from Flagstaff, AZ

2011-07-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

We are currently at the send-off party for our World Youth Day Trip at the Newman Center in Flagstaff! We're rich with excitement about the upcoming trip, as well as the prospect of meeting Pope Benedict XVI and celebrating Mass with millions of other bright, young and old Catholics.

This blog will serve as our trip journal. We will be updating it often to keep all of you at home informed of our ventures, whether it's Mass with the Pope, bible studies, or eating generous amounts of gelato.

See what else we're up to with these useful links:

Official World Youth Day Site: www.madrid11.com/en
The Vatican's WYD Web Site: www.vatican.va/gmg/documents/index.html
The Flagstaff Newman Center's Web Site: www.naunewman.org

We humbly ask for your prayers on this pilgrimage; for a spiritually-fulfilling experience and safe travels.

Thank you and God Bless!
- The Catholic Jack Pilgrims